What Is Outpatient?

Outpatient anaesthesia is designed to meet the needs of outpatient surgery so you can go home soon after your operation. Short-acting anaesthetic drugs, specialised anaesthetic techniques, and care geared explicitly to outpatient needs are used to make your experience safe and enjoyable.

Generally, if you are in good health, you can have anaesthesia and surgery on an outpatient basis. Because each patient is unique, your anesthesiologist will carefully evaluate your health status to determine if you should have outpatient surgery.

After coming back from anaesthesia, you usually go straight home. Outpatients need help from relatives or friends. If you don’t have someone to help you at home, you may need extra help. Some outpatient centres offer special post-surgery recovery facilities or longer-term home nursing services.

When will I meet my anesthesiologist?

Your anesthesiologist or assistant will meet with you before anaesthesia to gather information and assess your general health. This interview can be over the phone, an in-centre visit, or an office visit.

They may order lab tests and review your medical history, surgical history, and other anaesthesia-related medical histories. You may be asked to complete a questionnaire about different experiences with anaesthesia, medical conditions, medications, and allergies you have.

It would help if you talked to the anesthesiologist about any concerns.

What are the types of anaesthesia?

Anaesthesia-related decisions are always made with you in mind. The type of anaesthesia you receive depends on your general health, the type of surgery, and what you prefer, if possible.

Based on the information the anesthesiologist has gathered from your medical history and pre-operative interview, they will discuss possible anaesthetic options with you.

You can choose from four main categories of anaesthesia:

General anaesthesia. With general anaesthesia, you are unconscious and lose sensation.

Regional anaesthesia. If you have regional anaesthesia, you are injected with a local anaesthetic to numb and control pain and sensation in a large body region. Regional anaesthesia techniques include spinal and epidural blockers and arm and leg blocks. You may be given medications that make you comfortable and tired and blur your memory.

Anaesthesia with monitoring. This consists of medicines you take to make you sleepy and relieve pain. These medications complement local anaesthetic injections usually given by the surgeon. While you are sedated, your anesthesiologist will monitor your vital body functions.

Local anaesthesia. It is used to numb a small area. Often the surgeon does it. In this case, there may not be a member of the anesthesiology team with you.

The anesthesiologist will discuss the risks and benefits associated with the different kinds of anaesthesia with you. Occasionally it is not possible to keep you comfortable with regional or local anaesthesia, and general anaesthesia is needed.

However, rare complications or side effects may occur with each of the options you choose despite careful monitoring and special precautions by the anesthesiologist to avoid them. With this information, you and your anesthesiologist can decide which type of anaesthesia is best for you.

Tips before the operation

Can I eat or drink before anaesthesia?

Generally, you should not eat or drink anything after midnight before the operation. Under some circumstances, your anesthesiologist may allow you to drink clear liquids for up to a few hours before giving you anaesthesia. If you’re used to smoking, please don’t.

Do I need someone to drive me home?

Yes, you need to arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home after you have been given an anaesthetic or sedative. You will not be allowed to go out alone or drive home. It is recommended that you have company for the first 24 hours.

If you have only a local anaesthetic and no sedatives, you may be able to go home unaccompanied. First, ask the doctor.

These instructions are essential for your safety. If you do not follow your doctor’s instructions not to eat and to have an adult drive you home, your surgery may be cancelled.

Should I take my usual medicines?

Some medicines must be taken, others not. It is essential to discuss this with the anesthesiologist. He does not stop the medication unless the anesthesiologist recommends it.

What clothes should I wear?

Wear loose clothing that is easy to put on and will fit after the bandages. Leave valuable things at home.

On the day of surgery

What happens before my surgery?

You will usually meet your treating anesthesiologist on the day of surgery before going to the operating room. At that time, he will review his medical history, his anaesthesia history, and the results of any lab tests and answer any questions you may have.

The nurses will take your vital signs, and the anesthesiologist and surgeon will meet with you and complete evaluations and lab tests. Your IV fluids will be started, and you will be given pre-operative medications if needed.

When you arrive in the operating room, monitors such as an inflatable blood pressure cuff, an EKG machine, and other devices will be attached to you for your safety. At this time, you are ready for anaesthesia. 

What does the anesthesiologist do during surgery?

The anesthesiologist is personally responsible for ensuring your comfort and well-being. The anesthesiologist will lead the anaesthesia care team to monitor and monitor your vital functions during surgery.

The anesthesiologist is also responsible for managing other medical conditions related to the surgery and any chronic medical problems you may have, such as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart problems. A member of the anaesthesia team will be by her side throughout the surgery.

Recovery in the surgery centre

What can I expect after surgery?

After surgery, you will be taken to a post-operative care unit, commonly called a recovery room. The anesthesiologist directs the monitoring and medications necessary for your safe recovery.

For the first 30 minutes, trained nurses will care for you, give you extra oxygen, and monitor your breathing and heart functions.

In some centres, you may be moved from the recovery room to another area where you will continue to recover, and your friends and relatives can be with you. There they will give you something to drink and help you get up.

Will there be side effects?

The discomfort you experience will depend on several factors, especially the type of surgery. Doctors and nurses can relieve pain after surgery with oral medications or injections or by numbing the area near the cut. Your discomfort should be tolerable, but you can’t expect to be pain-free.

Nausea or vomiting may be related to the anaesthesia, the kind of surgery, the procedure, or medications to control pain from the operation. Although today, there are fewer problems due to better anaesthetics and techniques, these side effects still occur in some patients.

During the operation and recovery, the anesthesiologist often gives medications to reduce nausea, vomiting, and pain caused by the process.

When can I go home?

That depends on the centre’s policies where you have the surgery, the kind of surgery, and the type of anaesthesia used. Most patients can go home one to four hours after surgery. Your anesthesiologist can give you a more specific idea of your case.

Occasionally it is necessary to stay overnight. All ambulatory surgery centres have arrangements with a hospital if medically necessary.

What instructions will I receive?

They will give you oral and written instructions. Most centres have general education and instructions that apply to your particular case.

Generally, during the 24 hours after your surgery:

Do not drink alcohol or use non-prescription medications.

Do not drive a vehicle or dangerous machinery.

Don’t make big decisions.

You will be given phone numbers where you can call if you have concerns or need emergency help after you go home.

recovery at home

What can I expect?

Be ready to go home and finish your recovery there. Patients often experience drowsiness and mild side effects after ambulatory anaesthesia, such as muscle aches, sore throat, and dizziness or headaches. They may also feel nauseated, but vomiting is less frequent.

These side effects subside quickly hours after surgery but may take several days to pass completely. The next day, most patients do not feel ready to go on with their everyday lives due to general tiredness or discomfort caused by the surgery.

Take things easy for a few days until you feel normal again. Realise that the recovery period at home is typical and to be expected.